Fallen Angels

A third of the angels fell from Heaven. They were cast down with Lucifer.

Lucifer held the rank of “anointed cherub,” and according to what God said of him, he was originally something pretty special, “the seal of perfection, full of wisdom and perfect in beauty” Ezekiel 28:12. With all that he had going for him, his heart became full of pride. Because of his beauty, the story goes. So much so that he had ideas of usurping the throne of God. And so filled with pride and arrogance and rebellion, God cast him out. Down to Sheol, the abode of the dead.

It was not only him that rebelled though. Angels did too. When Michael won the battle with Satan in heaven, “that serpent of old, called the Devil and Satan, who deceives the whole world; he was cast to the earth, and his angels were cast out with him” Revelation 12:9. Satan and his fallen angels.

So we know that not all angels are good. And we know that these fallen angels are in chains and in darkness and will face God’s judgment 2 Peter 2:4. But we also know that they are our spiritual opponents here and now Ephesians 6:12.

Having worked in a Christian setting, I have heard many stories of people who have experienced scary, supernatural presences. Sometimes in a particular room at home; sometimes when they wake from sleep; and sometimes in a nightmarish dream. I remember one guy who had the sensation of being physically overpowered and held down in his bed one night by a dark kind of presence. In his terror, he knew to cry out to God. When he did, God intervened. The dark presence instantly left him, as did the physical sensation of being held down. The spiritual climate in the room changed and there was peace. He since became a Christian.

When I was fifteen, a wonderful Christian woman said something to me which I never forgot. She said, “If ever you are in a situation of danger, whatever it is, call upon the Name of Jesus. If it’s all you can do, just call out His Name. There is power in it.” She is right. There is power in Jesus’ Name. Evil spiritual beings are terrified of Him and cower before Him. Jesus is “far above all principality and power and might and dominion” Ephesians 1:20.

In acknowledging the existence of fallen angels (and/or demonic presences) let’s never be afraid of them. “In all these things, we are more than conquerors through Him (Jesus) who loved us” Romans 8:37. And He says to us, “Behold, I give you authority to trample on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy, and nothing shall by any means hurt you” Luke 9:19.

God has also given His angels charge over us, come back tomorrow to read more in the post on Guardian Angels.